Mostly art, with technology boosts to stay in touch, while reclaiming my Canadian identity.
Change Of Scenery
After many years in Seattle, I’m now based in Vancouver. Rather than renew my green card once again, I decided to keep the geography, but move back home — to a place I’ve never lived, and where I know very few people. I’m exploring how to discover community here, while keeping ties with my Seattle connections. I’m grateful for virtual options, and have several regular online meetings throughout each month. Luckily, art is fairly portable for me, and a great conversation starter.
New Colors, Less Specificity
I’ve found notes going back to 2012 about my orange/green/purple palette, and you can see it in my work. But it’s time for something new, to address the call that pink is insistently making. More here.
Along with the new palette, I’m trying fewer obvious hooks to real images and specific references, to see where I can get with editing down to just concepts, values, and composition. More here, which has led to a new minimal series, Quietude, and a less minimal one, Digital Aerials.
Curating Work and Series
A few of my recent series still feel quite current; they are open to expansion, as I work on any new piece that might slot in. But I keep checking, and retiring work, or groups, that don’t resonate.
- Future Wanderings: full abstraction, with a landscape feel
- Adaptive Horizons: urban views, abstracted, now with a few Vancouver pieces
- Familiar Territory: photography-based, with added texture layers
Hybrid Models
I want to stay open to the idea of less shipping, less in-person, and more virtual, online wherever it makes more sense. With digital art to start with, it’s a serious choice to print, and one that I’d rather make with you directly. So, I continue to look for online-only shows, to post my work to Redbubble, and to offer video conference options.
At the same time, I’m all for less stuff, especially less plastic stuff. I’ve removed some product options from Redbubble, and am resisting printing digital work without a specific call to do so. I’m exploring additional print-on-demand options, possible local outlets, and I’m considering offering my work on photo frames.
Community
Not just because of the pandemic, but certainly amplified by it, I’m interested in all the close & loose connections that make up the art world, and the world as a whole. I find it on Instagram, at local events when it’s safe to do so, and, delightfully, in one-on-one conversations that go into more depth. I’m tracking connections, new and old, on Dex, which lets me measure cadences as well as contact information, to help me stay in touch with old friends in Seattle, and connect with new ones in Vancouver. I’m also exploring Discord, Bluesky, and Mastodon. Got any more ideas? Let me know.
Good Storytelling
When I’m not making art or figuring out what to do with it, I’m looking for compelling stories, and trying to remember what I’ve already seen and read. Here’s what I like for doing that:
- The Storygraph for books. I’m lizruest there.
- Letterboxd for movies, where I’m Moirvae.
- Trakt.tv for series across my ever-changing set of streaming services.
Keeping It All Straight
I’m finally a convert to a large-scale search for ideas. I’ve moved from Evernote to (briefly) Airtable, and am now happily harnessing Notion to track anything and everything that comes through my mind. For art, whether created or collected, I like Artwork Archive; for money matters, Wave, and for keeping up with blogs, RSS reader Feedly. I’d love to know what tools keep you saner.
Created in 2022 & updated most recently in summer 2025. Thanks to Derek Sivers for the idea for this page, in addition to his excellent blog & books.